"After a sluggish first half against Luxembourg on Friday, Germany turned it up a couple notches and got a key win behind Nick Woltemade's first international brace. Germany and Slovakia are tied atop UEFA's Group A in FIFA World Cup Qualifying but Germany holds the crucial tiebreaker on goal differential. This means that a win or draw will punch Germany's ticket to the FIFA World Cup next summer."
"Unless his ankle is no longer attached to his body, Joshua Kimmich will return to the lineup to replace Ridle Baku. Waldemar Anton was decent in Nico Schlotterbeck's absence and Anton should start again next to temporary captain Jonathan Tah. The rest of the starting lineup will likely remained unchanged from the Luxembourg match. Felix Nmecha played well as a Leon Goretzka replacement in the second half."
"A loss would award the automatic bid to Slovakia and Germany would have to fight through the two knockout rounds in a playoff format. Until this year, Germany had defeated Slovakia in all three competitive matches. In September, Slovakia shocked Germany with a 2-0 result. Slovakia has held clean sheet in all four wins throughout the qualifying round. Slovakia's lone 2-0 loss came at the hands of Northern Ireland."
Germany earned momentum after a sluggish first half versus Luxembourg, powered by Nick Woltemade's first international brace. Germany and Slovakia sit level atop UEFA Group A in World Cup qualifying, with Germany ahead on goal differential. A win or draw will clinch Germany's spot at the World Cup; a loss hands the automatic berth to Slovakia and forces Germany into playoff knockouts. Slovakia has kept clean sheets in all four qualifying wins and lost 2-0 only to Northern Ireland. Joshua Kimmich is expected to return, Waldemar Anton to start alongside captain Jonathan Tah, while Felix Nmecha impressed and Karim Adeyemi returns from suspension. Slovakia's manager favors a 4-3-3 and relies on key players including Milan Škriniar, Matúš Bero, and Martin Dúbravka.
Read at Bavarian Football Works
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